Fantastic Reality.

Two weekends ago, Cazz and I went to Venice. I had never been there before and we decided that we needed some relaxation after all of the rushing around and stress of apartment/job/baby preparation, so we packed a bag and made our way to the watery streets of a city in the sea. The morning we left was sunny and beautiful and we managed to get up early enough to avoid the throngs of people usually gathered at the train station. We bought tickets for the regional trains which saved us a lot of money, picked up some reading material and left the routine behind for a few days so that we could unwind and take in some beauty. I had a thousand ideas of what Venice would be like, and look like. And yet I never could have imagined what that city would mean to me.

As we got off the water taxi to go to our hotel, the wind was chilly, but the sun put up a fierce battle and managed to keep us warm. We left our things in the room and decided to go find some food and see the city. Of course, Cazz had been there many times before, being from Verona, but it was a new experience for me. All of the pictures I had in my mind of how it would be were nothing compared to the reality of it, as few things do. Of course, without the soft-focus elements present in my thoughts, it was bound to be different. But it was beautiful, of course. The tiny winding pathways of stone, the bridges, the gondolas. On our way to lunch we walked through a small tunnel where a lone man sat and played the violin, taking advantage of the acoustics in semi-light. Lovely, romantic, dreamy Venice.

We ate in a small shop, a crowded shop where so many different types of crostini lined the display cases, and wine bottles made up a library on the surrounding walls. We ordered several different crostini and ate standing, savoring the flavors of fish, tomato, cheese and pumpkin toppings. Then we made our way back into the sunshine and strolled happily along the pathways. We looked at several piazzas before deciding to make our way to Piazza San Marco, one of the most famous piazzas in Venice, I had been told. We discussed taking a gondola, but decided that it would be easier to walk and we could take that ride later.

The piazza was semi-crowded. Beautiful buildings all around and live music playing from several of the surrounding cafes. We looked out on the water and delighted in the breeze, the sounds and the moment. Then we decided that a coffee in the square would be just the thing. We selected a cafe with outdoor seating, live music and a great view of the church. I almost choked looking at the menu prices, but Cazz had never had a coffee in Piazza San Marco, and we decided it was worth doing, even just once. So we placed our order, coffee for him and water for me and listened to the music. I'm not going to lie though- I was giving him a hard time about spending 6 euro on a bottle of water. I may even have been berating him a little. Then he pulled out a little present for me in a gold, shiny bag. The reflection of my bad attitude looked entirely different in the glint of the late afternoon sun coming off of that bag. I was spoiling such a nice time and he brought me a gift! How romantic. Besides, my mouth was salivating due to the candy-like contours of his gift. So I untied the bag, and took out what could only be a chocolate truffle wrapped in gold paper. After tearing off the wrapping, I froze. Time froze. Only thoughts raced on..

"What is this?" I asked, though the little blue velvet box and the glinting diamond on white gold couldn't have been more clear. "Where does this go?" I asked, tears now spilling down my face. He took the ring out and slid it onto that very significant finger and said, "Mi vuoi sposare?".

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The reality of the moment tumbled down on me. I found my voice, my words. "Are you sure?" I asked him. It is Cazz, after all. A girl can never lose her reason. But of course I said yes. And then the fantasy was completed with a gondola ride at sunset. Venice may be sinking, but our hopes float high.